Not so fast.
That’s what some area legislators are saying about a state law that went into effect in early November and changed the speed limit on 283 gravel roads in Oakland County.
A total of 15 roads within Orion Township lost their 25 mile-per-hour status, and a majority of those, like most throughout the county, will changed to an unposted 55 MPH.
‘We have a lot of miles of gravel roads, but we also have 34,000 people living in the township,? said Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk.
‘It’s not that big of a deal in rural areas outside of Oakland County,? he added.
As a result, Sen. Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) and Rep. James Marleau (R-Lake Orion) have helped to create an amendment during the December lame duck session that would give the county control to maintain current speed limit postings on the roads.
Senate Bill 248 re-addresses speed limits and restores the ability for city, village or township officials who may request changes with the county road commission, in order to safeguard against unwarranted speed limit increases on gravel roads.
The bill has already been approved by the state house, and is awaiting confirmation by the senate.
Both Bishop and Marleau actually voted for the original law (House Bill No. 5240), which adds provisions to Section 627 (2) of the Michigan Vehicle Code.
That vote took place in March, and though it did not draw the attention of many at the time, the Road Commission of Oakland County has been vocal from the get go.
Brent Bair, Managing Director for the RCOC, said the speed limits on gravel roads are based on access points in the new law.
For gravel roads with 60 or more vehicular access points (driveways, roads, and/or streets) within a half-mile, the speed limit changed to 30 MPH.
For gravel roads with between 45 and 59 access points within a half-mile, the speed limit changed to 35 MPH.
For gravel roads with between 30 and 44 access points within a half-mile, the speed limit changed to 45 MPH.
Those with less than 30 access points changed to 55 MPH.
Essentially, the bill removed the residential district language from the code, thus eliminating the method that the RCOC uses to post the 25 MPH residential speed limit on gravel roads.
Bishop said he originally voted in favor of the law because he was told there would still be local control and was upset to learn that wouldn’t be the case.
‘In this case, I’m concerned I was misled in a purposeful way,? the senator said. ‘I got a completely different answer at the time.?
On paved roads, local governments and citizens can request an engineering and traffic study be performed and if the road warrants it, a Traffic Control Order (TCO) is issued to set a new speed limit. However, this cannot be done on gravel roads.
That left the need for an alternative solution in the mind of both the Road Commission and the state-level representatives.
The new senate bill will restore speed limits on gravel or dirt roads that were in effect before Nov. 9 of this year, though locals can request an increase.
‘The key is that we want to create an environment where local officials can set proper standards,? Bishop said. ‘The fix is merely to preserve our original intent.?
‘This amendment reinstates our original intent of addressing speed limits,? Marleau added. ‘This bill maintains the ability for our local officials to protect against unsafe increases on gravel roads.?
At press time, Bishop said the bill was going through a senate committee, and he sees the process wrapping up quickly.
‘It’s going to have to be soon,? he said. ‘We’ve got 10 days left in this lame duck session.?
The road commission decided in November to hold off on taking down the signs until Jan. 1, in hopes that something like this legislation might develop during the lame duck session.
At the township level, plans to bring in State Police Lt. Thad Peterson have not yet been changed, a notion first brought to the board by Trustee John Garlicki.
Peterson spoke on the issue in Addison Township in October, offering data on the correlation between speed limits and actual driving speed.
‘I think we need to have our process go on until this gets done,? Garlicki told the board at their Dec. 4 meeting.
He added that the new legislation is only good for two years, so there is still a need for a long-term solution.
At their Nov. 20 meeting, the board directed Clerk Jill Bastian to contact the Road Commission and State Police, with an invitation to appear at a public hearing on Dec. 18 at 8:00 p.m. regarding speeds on gravel roads.